The Heritage of the Servants of the Lord

“‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,

And their righteousness is from Me,’

Says the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17 NKJV)

Many a believer has held on to this verse when under attack and it is a wonderful comfort to do so. Note, however, that this chapter is an utterance to the nation of Israel already in captivity. Israel has been taken away and Judah followed no long thereafter. It seemed to many that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had abandoned His people. It is in this context that this verse was included in the holy writ.

Earlier in the chapter, Isaiah had proclaimed where the nation stood in God’s plan. Prophetically he said,

“”For a mere moment I have forsaken you,

But with great mercies I will gather you.

With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;

But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,’

Says the LORD, your Redeemer.” (Isaiah 54:7-8 NKJV)

His wrath was, “but for a moment,” but His kindness is everlasting.” Before this promise of protection came a time of devastation. God had allowed the heathen nations to prevail over His people as punishment for their unbelief and He wanted them to turn to Him again, as to a loving Father. Often adversity is the only message which makes it through our thick skulls; He’s saying, “Now that I have your attention, let Me tell you what I intend to do for you.”

Note that this protection from physical harm and from slanderous attack is not promised to everyone. “‘This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,/And their righteousness is from Me,’” He says. The prerequisite to this protection is recognition that our righteousness is a filthy rags and only He can provide our salvation. Only those who so rely can expect this protection.

Note also that this results not from the people fighting back on their own or answering the charges falsely brought against them. God says He will provide protection and reputation defense on their behalf. Although temporarily satisfying to stand up to those who berate us, it is best to let the Lord fight our battles, though that can be carried too far, to a totally pacifist lifestyle. Taken in context, the people of Israel had no hope against vastly superior foes; they were already defeated. Only if Yaweh fought for them could they prevail.

In times of leanness, hold on. Remain faithful and true; let Him fight for you. Remember, ““God is our refuge and strength,/A very present help in trouble.” (Psalms 46:1 NKJV) And, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV)

Related Scripture

“Woe to the multitude of many people

Who make a noise like the roar of the seas,

And to the rushing of nations

That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters;

But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away,

And be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind,

Like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

Then behold, at eventide, trouble!

And before the morning, he is no more.

This is the portion of those who plunder us,

And the lot of those who rob us.” (Isaiah 17:12-14 NKJV)

“‘It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams,

And look—he eats;

But he awakes, and his soul is still empty;

Or as when a thirsty man dreams,

And look—he drinks;

But he awakes, and indeed he is faint,

And his soul still craves:

So the multitude of all the nations shall be,

Who fight against Mount Zion.’” (Isaiah 29:8 NKJV)

“‘He shall say,

“Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength.

To Him men shall come,

And all shall be ashamed

Who are incensed against Him.

In the LORD all the descendants of Israel

Shall be justified, and shall glory.”’” (Isaiah 45:24-25 NKJV)

“‘In righteousness you shall be established;

You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;

And from terror, for it shall not come near you.’” (Isaiah 54:14 NKJV)